10 Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants present the information about the leaf-chewing ants. The species are native to some parts of the world like southern US, Mexico, Central America and South America. The fungus-growing ants are found in tropical areas. The fresh grasses, flowers and leaves are processed by the leafcutter ants. They are strong enough to take over 5,000 times of their body weight. The nutrition from the fresh vegetation will be used for their fungal cultivars. Let us check the below post for detail information:

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 1: the types of leaf cutter ants

There are two types of leaf cutter ants. They are Atta and Acromyrmex. The anatomy of both is mostly similar. However, people can find out the differences of their external look.

Leaf Cutter Ant

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 2: differences of Atta and Acromyrmex ants

Acromyrmex ants feature the rough exoskeleton and four pairs of spines. On the other hand, the smooth exoskeleton is found on the Atta ants. They also have the three pairs of spines.

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Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 3: the complex animals

If you have to mention the list of complex animals in the world, leaf cutter ants are always included in the list. At least eight million individual leaf cutter ants are found on the area of 30 to 60 meter square of area.

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 4: the nuptial flight

The nuptial flight of leaf cutter ants is called revoada where the winged males and females leave their nests.

Leaf Cutter Ant Pictures

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 5: setting a colony

The queen sets up the colony by collecting 300 million sperms. Therefore, she has to mate with many male ants.

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 6: losing the wings

The female will lose the wings when she is on the ground to find her colony. The young queens are not always successful when setting a new colony. It only has 2.5 percent of success rate for the queen to create a long-lived colony.

Leaf Cutter Ants

Facts about Leaf Cutter Ants 7: the fungus garden

The queen has infrabuccal pocket located in her oral cavity used to save the bits of parental fungus garden mycelium. The bits are important to set her own fungus garden.